CARL
The gates of the Harris estate loomed like prison bars.
Carl ignored the agony in his chest as he slammed the car into park, gravel spraying. The media vans Kathleen had called followed close behind, cameras already rolling.
*Let them see,* he thought savagely. *Let the whole world watch.*
Ava's voice crackled through his earpiece: *"Live feed is go. Hansen's video just dropped on every major network."*
Good. By now, the world would know his father's sins.
Kathleen grabbed his arm as he moved to exit. *"Carl—"*
He kissed her. Hard. A claiming. A promise.
Then he was striding toward the mansion, blood soaking through his bandages.
The guards hesitated—then stepped aside. They knew which Harris heir held the power now.
The front door blew open before he reached it.
His father stood framed in the doorway, Alina clutched against his chest—a silver pistol pressed to her temple.
*"Come to die, boy?"* Lionel Harris smiled.
---
ALINA
Alina wasn't scared.
Uncle Carl—no, *Dad*—had taught her what to do.
She went limp like he'd shown her in their secret self-defense lessons. *"Dead weight,"* he'd said. *"Harder to hold."*
Grandpa's grip slipped.
Alina stomped on his foot *hard* and twisted—
The gun went off.
Screams erupted. The reporters scattered.
Alina hit the ground rolling and came up running—
Straight into Kathleen's arms.
---
KATHLEEN
Time fractured.
One moment, Kathleen was lunging for Alina.
The next, Carl was tackling his father to the marble floor, the gun skittering away.
Lionel snarled, clawing at Carl's stitches. *"You ruin everything!"*
Carl didn't flinch. He pinned the older man down with a knee to his chest and leaned close.
*"Say hello to hell for me."*
Then the police swarmed in, and the cameras caught every second as Lionel Harris was dragged away in cuffs—his empire crumbling live on national television.
---
AVA
Ava watched the broadcast from SafeHaven's HQ, surrounded by cheering engineers.
On screen, Carl gathered Alina and Kathleen into his arms, his bloody hands cradling them like treasures. The headline beneath read:
**HARRIS HEIR SAVES DAUGHTER, EXPOSES FATHER'S CRIMES**
Her phone buzzed. A message from an unlisted number:
**You're next, Lopez.**
Ava smirked and typed back:
**Bring it.**
Then she pulled up Lionel's private financials.
The game wasn't over yet.